Combined drawing and spinning frame



April w. SPRING 1,953,368

COMBINED DRAWING AND sPImiINe FRAME Filed. Nov. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1lnvenfon WalTer M. Spring byMWd M April 3, 1934. w. M. SPRING 3 7COMBINED DRAWING AND SPINNING FRAME Filed Nov. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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April-3,1934; I w. M. SPRING 6 COMBINED DRAWING AND SPINNING FRAME FiledNov. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v lnvenTor. WolTer M. Spring b MWkW IATTys.

April 3, 1934- w. M. SPRING. 1,953,368

COMBINED DRAWING AND SPINNING FRAME Filed Nov. 2, 1931] 4 Sheets-Sheet 4A \nvenToi. Wafier Mfipflng by Artys.

Patented 7 Apr. 3, .1934

' COMBINED DRAWING FRAM EAND SPINNING Walter M. Spring, Springvale,Maine, assignor to Sanford Mills, Sanford Maine Application November 2,

, Maine, a corporation of 1931, Serial No. 572,473

2 Claims. (01. 118-39) This invention relates to a process and apparatusfor the continuous multistage processing of roving or yarn strands in'the production of yarn wherein and whereby the strands advance 5continuously in the same direction throughout the several stages ofdoubling, drawing and twisting.

In the process of forming yarn a plurality of strands of roving aredoubled, drawn or attenuatedand twisted and this operation is repeatedseveral times with the resultant composite strands. While thenumber ofstages vary and the number of machines employed vary according to thecharacter of the fibre and the kind of yarn ultimately to be produced,and while the machines employed are of, varioustypes and known byvarious names, it is the universal practice to employ a plurality ofindependent machines for each drawing or attenuating and Q twistingoperation. A plurality of strands is fed usually from a plurality ofspools,as from a creel, into the first machine and these strands thereinare doubled, drawn, and slightly twisted and then wound upon suitablebobbins or car-' 5 iriers. A plurality of these bobbins or carriers isthen, placed in the second machine and the strands unwound therefrom,doubled, drawn and twisted and wound upon another series of bobbins orcarriers in the second machine. Thus the operations are repeated withsucceeding machines. It will thus be seen that the direction of travelof the strands is reversed each time it passes from one machine toanother andthat much time and expense is involved in the winding ontoand unwinding from the bobbins or filling carriers between thesuccessive operations. In preparing the strand for the final spinningoperation, it is common to pass the strands successively through threesets of apparatus having doubling, drawing, and twisting elements andthese machines or pieces of apparatus are known by various names, suchas drawing framesor fly frames. Broadly considered, there is littledifference between the drawing or fly frame and the spinning frame whichperforms the final operation in producing the yarn. The main differenceis in the amount. of twist imparted to the strand. In the drawing orattenuating operation only enough twist is imparted to enable the strandto withstand the drawing or attenuating operation without breakage,while in the spinning operation suificient twist is imparted to producethe character oi. yarn desired.

The present invention has for its object to pro- 55 vide a process andapparatus in which the retion are completed.

The object of the invention is further to pro- ,vide such a processandapparatus in which each twisting operation prior to the last orfinal'twist is effected while the strands are passing from the precedingdrawing operation to the 'succeeding drawing operation.

The object of the invention is further to provide an apparatus in whichthis multistage proces'sing'of theyarn is secured and the twistingoperations prior to the final twisting operation are performed bytwister tubes engaging the strands as they pass from one drawingoperation to the next drawing operation.

The object of the invention is further to provide an apparatus forproducing either finished yarn or a composite strand from a plurality ofstrands by a plurality of drawing operations in which a convenient gearchanging means is provided for changing the draft.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear morefully from the accompanying description and drawings and-will beparticularly pointedout in the claims.

As the general nature of drawing frames, fly frames'and spinning framesis well known to those skilled in the art, and as the invention is notconcerned with various details of these machines except in featureshereinafter specified, it is only necessary to illustrate and describethe general features of a preferred form of apparatus embodying theinvention and carrying out the process, together with such details asare particularly required by the invention The strands'areherein-illustrated as taken from a plurality of spools on a creel,-thendoubled, drawn and twisted by a plurality of units, then again doubled,drawn and twisted by a second plurality .of units in a second stage, andthen doubled, drawn and twisted by a plurality of units ina third stage.third stage may be either that of a final preparatory operation or of aspinning op ation, depending, as already creased to any desired extentaccording to the 11 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodyingthe invention and for carrying out the process of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail drawing illustrating the speedchanging gear mechanismfor adjusting the draft.

Fig. 4 is an end view of'the gear'mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end-view of the gear mechanism looking in the oppositedirection from that of Fig. .4 with the casing thereof partially brokenaway.

Fig. 6 is a ditic view in perspective showing the steps employed inproducing finished strands and the process of combining or doubling aplurality of strands into the finished strands.

In order to give a better'understanding of the invention, a preferredembodiment is illustrated in the drawings. A sufficient number of'elements are incorporated in the embodiment illustrated to reducethree'hundredand eightyfour strands to eight finished strands. The threehundred and eighty-four strands are supplied byas many spools or bobbinsI mounted upon a creel 2 or any other suitable support. The necessarydrawing and twisting elements are incorporated in a single condensedimit having a frame 3.

For purposes of description the spools 1 upon the creel 2 will-beconsidered as divided into four main groups disposed in horizontallayers, one above the other, each layer being two spools deep, 'fourspools wide and twelve spools long.

. twenty-four single composite strands which are disposedhorizontallyacrossthe machine and fed to drawing rolls incorporated ineach of the four mechanisms. After receiving their proper draft thecomposite strands are fed through twister tubes mounted adjacent thebite of'the drawing rolls where they are given their proper twist. Atotal of ninety-six composite strands are thus formed by the four maingroups of mechanisms andthese strands are then combined into twenty-four groups of four strands each, the four strands of each of thetwenty-four groups are then combined or doubled and fed'to drawing rollsincorporated in two additional drawing roll mechanisms8and9situatedcloselyadjacentt0 the other mechanisms, and preferably oneabove the other. Each of the m 8 and 9 re- Sceives twelve of thetwenty-four composite strands available and perform another draftoperation thereon, after which the strands are passed through twistertubes, where they receive additional twist in the same direction as thatof the prior twisting operation.

From this point the twenty-four composite strands are again combinedinto eight groups containing three strands each. The three strands ofeach group are then combined or doubled into eight composite strandswhich are led to the unit 10 in which they are given another draft andare twisted upon a standard fiy frame spindle twisting mechanism toproduce eight strands which may be either the final operationpreparatory to spinning or even the spinning operation itself.

The exact manner in which the strands are combined or doubled is shownbest by following through the formation of two finished strands as showndiagrammatically in Fig. 6. The formationof two finished strands ischosen for illustration rather than one, for the reason that the methodof combining the strands which originate at divergent points inthemachine to produce a greater uniformity of product is more clearlyshown.

Fig. 6 represents the disposition of strands in that portion of themachine above the dotted line shown in Fig.2, and bounded by a verticalplane extending downwardly through the machine at this point. Thefinished strand is produced in the remaining portion of the machine inthe same manner as that illustrated in Fig. 6.

In the portion of the machine illustrated diagrammatically, there areninety-six strands coming from ninety-six spools or bobbins in the creelwhich are not shown in Fig. 6. These strands are divided intotwenty-four groups of four each, the four strands of each group beingcombined in a guide eye or other suitable means at points 11. Each groupis then processed by drawing and then twisted into a single compositestrand by means of twister tubes at points 12. The twenty-four groups offour each. Each groupis then combined into six individual compositestrands at points 13. The four composite strands contained in each ofthe six groups are combined into one by leading two strands from one ofthe layers. from which the twenty-four strands arebeing delivered by theprior step in processing the yarn, and two from the layer above or belowthe first named layer as clearly illustrated in- Fig. 6. The

composite strands are then divided into six six composite strandsdisposed in two layers contwo strands from the lower layer and one fromI the upper layer. ,7

A thorough mixing of the fibre coming from different spools of the creelor supply is obtained in the manner above set forth to produce a finalstrand which is of very uniform quality. While the above method ofcombinin the strands produces satisfactory results, it is within thescope of the invention to combine any desired .number of strands in anymanner suitable to the character of the product to be produced.

The drawing and twisting mechanisms are fixed in the frame 3 and sincethey are substantially similar in construction, only one of the. 150

a plurality of feed rolls 19, 20, 21, and 22 which are pivotally mountedin the frame 23 of the mechanism. The bottom roll 22 is driven by meansof a gear 24 fixed upon its shaft and meshing with a train of gears 25which has an interchangeable element by means of which its speed ratemay be changed. The strand enters between the rolls 19 and 20, passesaround one-- half of the circumference of the roll 20 between the roll20 and the roll 21, then passes around one-half of the circumference ofthe roll 21 and thence between the rolls 21 and 22. The strand thenpasses over idler rolls 26 and enters between a pair of draft rolls 2'7and 28.

In each of the mechanisms 4, 5, 6, and '7, the rolls 27 are driven bymeans of a vertical shaft 29. The means employed to drive the rolls 27from the vertical shaft'29 comprises a pair of spiral gears whose axesare disposed at an angle of 90 and are received in casings 30. The otherend of the rolls 2? are provided with gears which mesh with and drivethe gear trains 25. The upper draft roll 28 is divided into foursections and is driven by frictional engagement with the roll 27 in theusual manner. The pressure exerted between the rolls 27 and 28 isadjustable by means of a mechanism indicated generally at t 31, andwhich is disclosed in my pending application-Serial No. 534,487, filedMay 2, 1931.

The strand emerges from the draft rolls after receiving the proper draftand is fed through twister tubes 32 which are mounted rotatably upon themechanisms in a horizontal position. The twistertubes are of usualconstruction and serve to induce the proper twist into the roving as itpasses therethrough. The mechanisms 8 and 9 are similar to themechanisms 4, 5, 6, and '7 and are driven by means of a vertical shaft33 upon which are mounted two pairs of spiral gears within the casings34. One of each of the pairs of gears are secured to the shaft 33,whilethe other gear of each pair is fixed to the draft rolls 2'7. Thefeed rolls in the mechanisms 8 and 9 are driven from the rolls 2'!through the gear trains 25 in the same manner as that described inconnection with the other mechanisms.

The various strands are combined or doubled, drawn and twisted asalready described and emerge from the mechanisms 8 and 9 to be giventheir final processing of drawing and twisting in the mechanism 10. Thislatter mechanism is provided with feed rolls and drawing rolls similarto the other mechanisms, and, in addition, is shown as provided witheight standard fly frame spindles 35, which receive the output deliveredby the mechanisms 8 and 9 and give the eight final strands theirfinishing twist and wind the yarn upon the bobbins 36. The unit 10 issimilar to the usual type used in the production of mohair yarn, andembodies the usual traverse mechanism and driving elements which it isnot necessary to describe;

All of the elementsof the machine are driven from a main driving-shaft37 having a tight swung upwardly until the gear 60 meshes with pulley 38and a loose pulley 39 thereon, upon which is received a belt connectingthe machine with a line of shafting, a motor, or any other suitablepower supply not shown in the drawings. The shaft 37 has fixed theretoone of a pair of spiral gears whose axes are disposed at an angle of 90.The other gear of the pair is fixed to a shaft 40. The shaft 49 projectsinto and has a bearing in the casing .41 of a gear-changing mechanism.The shaft 40 extends throughout the length of the casing having abearing at both ends thereof and a bearing 42 near the cen- 'tral pointof the casing. Upon the shaft 40, be-

tween the end bearings and the central bearing 42, are mounted a pair ofdrum gears 43 and 44 having teeth out throughout their length. A shaft45is joumalled in one end of the casing 41 in parallel relation to theshaft 40 in bearings 46 and 47. The shaft 45 extendasub stantiallythroughout one-half of the lengtli'of the casing. Another shaft 48 isjournalled in the other end of the casing in parallel relation to theshaft 40 and mounted in bearings 49 and 50. The shaft 45 has fixedthereto a plurality of gears 51 of diflerent pitch diameters, while theshaft 48 has secured thereto a group of gears 52 of different pitchdiameters. The shaft 40 has mounted thereon a swinging frame which spansthe drum gear 43 and is composed of a shaft 53, rigidly secured at itsends in a pair of arms 54 and 55, which are mounted loosely at theirinner ends upon the shaft 40 and extend along the end faces .of the drumgear 43. A similar swinging frame spans the drum gear 44 having a shaft56 fixed at its ends in arms 5'? and 58 which are mounted'll loosely attheir inner ends on the shaft 40 adjacent the end faces of the gear 44.I

The shaft 56 has splined thereto a bifurcated frame 59 which is slidablethroughout the length thereof and has pivoted therein an idler gear 60,which is situated in position to mesh with the gear 44 at all times andin any position of the swinging frame. In order to establish a drivingrelation between the gear 44 and any one of the gears 52, the bifurcatedframe 59 carrying the gear 60 is moved along the shaft 56' until thegear 60 is in the same plane as the particular gear 52 with which it isdesired to establish a drive. The frame spanning the gear 44 is then thegear selected upon the shaft 48.. To lock the parts in this position anextension 61 is provided from the frame 59 and extends outwardly througha slot 62 in the casing and has a handle portion 63. Within the handl isa plunger 64 which is forced radially inward toward the shaft 40 bymeans of a spring. 65., When the gear 60 is positioned properly in meshwith the gear selected, the plunger will enter an aperture 66' in thecasing. A series of apertures 66 are provided in the casing and sopositioned as to lock the gears in mesh to drive through any one of thegears 52. When it is desired to change the gear ratio, the plunger 64 iswithdrawn from 146 the aperture 66 by means of the head 67 upon titheouter end of the plunger and the parts ar re-positioned to secure thedesired ratio.

The shaft 53 hassplined theretma frame 68 similar to the frame 59 andcarrying an idler gear 69 which is adapted to be meshed selectively withany one of the gears 51 upon the shaft 45 in the same manner asdescribed in connection with the frame 59. The frame 68 is provided witha handle extension '70 similar to the handle 150 leys 90 fixed upon theshaft 80.

,has fixed thereon a spiral gear '73 which meshes with aspiral gear '74fixed to the vertical shaft 33. The shaft 33, therefore, is driven fromthe shaft 40 through the gear 43, the idler gear 69 and one of the gears51 which in turn drives the shaft 45 having the gear '73 thereon. The

shaft 29 is driven in a similar manner from the gear 44 on the shaft 40through the idler gear 60 to one of the gears 52 upon the shaft 48having the gear 71 fixed thereto. To change the speed of the draft rolls27, therefore, it is merely necessary to withdraw the plunger 64,withdraw the idler 60 from its intermeshing gear and re-position theidler gear 60 in mesh with the proper gear 52 to give the desired speed.By this means the draft in all four of the mechanisms 4, 5, 6 and '7 issimultaneouslychanged. Similarly, the draft in the mechanisms 8 and 9 ischanged by adjusting the speed ratio between the gears 43 and the gears51 by re-positioning the idler gear 69. Obviously, if it is desired tochange-the speed of production of the machine, the interchangeable gearsin the gear trains 25 may be changed to change the speed of the feedrolls. If necessary, the draft may be readjusted again by means of thechange gear mechanism above described.

The spindles, drawing and traverse mechanisms of the unit 10 are drivenin the usual manner,

from a shaft 75. The shaft 75 is driven from a gear 76 mounted on themain drive shaft 37 through a suitable train of gears.

The twister tubes mounted on the mechanisms 4, 5, 6 and 7 are drivenfrom a pulley 7'7 mounted on the shaft 37 upon which is received a belt78 which in turn drives a pulley 79 mounted on a shaft 80 journalled' inthe frame of the machine and extending substantially the full widththerer of. Another pulley 81 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft80 and connected to another cross shaft '82 mounted in the frame of themachine by means of a belt 83 running upon a pulley 84. The shaft 82 hasmounted thereon a plurality of grooved pulleys 85. The twister tubesmounted in the mechanisms 41 and 5 are provided with whorls 86 whichreceive belts 87 which are driven by the pulleys upon the'shaft 82. Thetwister tubes mounted upon the mechanisms 6 and 7 are provided withwhorls 88 whichreceive belts 89 which are driven by a plurality of pul-The twister tubes mounted on the mechanisms 8 and 9 are provided withwhorls 91 upon which are received belts 92 which are driven from aplurality of pulleys 93, mounted upon a shaft 94, extending across themachine and driven by a pulley 95 shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, which inturn is driven by a belt 96 shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. The belt 96 isdriven from a pulley 97 mounted upon the main drive shaft 37.

There are many advantages resulting from the use of a machine embodyingthe principles of the present invention. To produce a finished strandwhich requires multistage processing, it has been necessary to processthe strand at each stage in its production upon individual machines, andupon completion of the processing at one stage the machine must bedefied and its product fed through the succeeding stage of the processon another machine. The present invention will produce a finished strandof equal grade without stopping the machine for dofling, thus savingmuch time and labor.

In producing a given quantity of yarn on the device presented herein,the only bobbins requiring handling are those upon the creel whichsupply the number of strands of fibre necessary to supply the firstprocessing stage for the particular machine in question. In the machinedescribed specifically herein, only three hundred and eighty-fourbobbins are handled, whereas in processing yarns by existing methods,atleast two claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent,is: I

1. An apparatus for producing yarn strands by multistage processingcomprising a plurality of groups of processing elements, each group com-.prising drawing and twisting mechanisms with the several groups actingin sequence upon strands extending in continuity throughout theapparatus and with each group acting to produce one stage in theprocessing and aunitary manual means operable selectively to change thedraft at any or all of the processing stages except the final stage bychanging the speed of all of the drawing elements in each stagesimultaneously.

2. An apparatus for producing yarn strands by multistage processingcomprising a plurality of groups of processing elements, each groupcomprising drawing and twisting mechanisms with the several groupsacting in sequence upon strands extending in continuity throughout theapparatus, each 'group'acting to produce one stage in the processing, amain drive shaft, a secondary drive shaft for each group of elementsconnected to. drive all of the draft elements of its groupsimultaneously, a gear-changing mechanism operable to transmit powerfrom the main drive shaft to the secondary drive shafts and meansselectively operable to change the gear ratio of the gear shaftmechanism between the main drive shaft and any or all of the secondarydrive shafts except in the final processing stage. i

WALTER M. SPRING

